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HB 1266 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Election moderators' access to vote counting

AI-generated

allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

Allows election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes while performing their official duties.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill allows election moderators to access the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Any election official who is also a candidate for office, other than a position of an election official, shall not be allowed to remain in the area designated for the counting of votes within the guardrail during the counting of [votes for an office for which he is a candidate] ballots for which he or she is a candidate for an office other than an election official.”
RSA 659:58
“Such official shall disqualify himself or herself from election duties relating to the tabulation of votes; and the moderator shall appoint an assistant who shall take the same oath as, serve in the same capacity as, and have all the powers of the election official who is disqualified until such official may properly return.”
RSA 659:58
“The election official, which includes the moderator, may be within the guard rails and perform other duties of their office, or other duties the moderator may assign [any] to the election official disqualified pursuant to this section [to other duties], not related to the tabulation of votes. 161:2 Effective Date.”
RSA 659:58

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Robert HarbRPrimeChair· Resources, Recreation and Development

Public testimony

5 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

80% support20% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Transparency in vote counting is essential for public trust.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchestersupports
“Moderators have a wide variety of duties related to the overall conduct of an election that require them to be able to work inside the roped off area where votes are counted.…”
— Robert Dezmelyk, Newtonsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law5:51:15–6:01:4710m 32slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law2:11:46–2:13:371m 51slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs4:20–13:048m 44slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1324s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1324s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1324s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor19:06–20:351m 29slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1324s (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 13
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 02:00 pm GP 158
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  4. Mar 3, 2026House: Ought to Pass 03/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 14
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 22
  6. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  7. Apr 1, 2026SenHearing: 04/01/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 12
  8. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1324s, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14
  9. Apr 16, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1324s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  10. Apr 16, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1324s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  11. May 7, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1324s (Rep. Berry): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 4
  12. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  13. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  14. Jun 19, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 161; eff. 08/18/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.